1st Edition

Young Citizens Young People's Involvement in Politics and Decision Making

By Eldin Fahmy Copyright 2006
    204 Pages
    by Routledge

    204 Pages
    by Routledge

    Recent years have witnessed growing concerns about the disengagement of young people from conventional politics both in Britain and internationally. Their non-participation is often viewed as reflecting both a deeper political alienation and 'apathy' amongst young people, and a wider political malaise across western societies. Based upon a wide range of UK and European survey sources, together with qualitative and policy-focused analyses, this volume explores the attitudes of young people to politics and government in Britain and assesses the prospects for re-engaging young people with the formal political process. Young Citizens will be a valuable reference for academics, researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the fields of sociology, social policy, citizenship studies and youth studies.

    Contents: Introduction: a disconnected generation?; Politics, participation and public policy; Exploring youth and civic participation; Youth, voting and political participation; Attitudes to political engagement; Youth participation: a European comparative perspective; Talking politics: youth, political efficacy and trust; Talking politics: youth and political action; Policy implications; Bibliography; Appendix; Index.

    Biography

    Eldin Fahmy is a Research Fellow in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol, UK.

    ’A timely study of young people's political citizenship. It draws on quantitative and qualitative research to provide the reader with insights into young citizens' engagement with both formal and informal politics. The book should be of value to anyone with an interest in young people or political citizenship.’ Ruth Lister, Loughborough University, UK ’...an elaborate and elegant analysis of young people’s lack of involvement in politics and decision-making in contemporary Britain...’ Youth & Policy ’...this book will be useful for those interested in conventional political participation in general, as well as those working in the area of involving young people in decision-making. The language and range of qualitative and quantitative methods makes the book accessible for undergraduates and also valuable for established scholars.’ Political Studies Review